Walk With Me a HUGE Success...and on the rainiest day of the year!

What an incredible day Sunday was.

Incredibly rainy and soggy that is. But more importantly - incredibly successful and blessed thanks to more than 500 people who braved the rainiest day of the year to come out and support Easter Seals New Jersey's first annual "Walk With Me", raising approximately $60,000....and still counting!

Volunteers began arriving at Roosevelt Park as early as 6 am on Sunday, August 22nd, setting up for registration and placing signage around the park. By 8 am, set up was well under way as we anticipated the arrival of the day's first registrants at 8:30. Of course, the real party didn't begin until our guests of honor -- our official Walk With Me Ambassadors Armaun and Vitaliy -- arrived (our prayers and well-wishes are with Cosette, our third Walk With Me Ambassador who was unable to attend due to illness).

To kick off the start of the walk at 10 am, Edison Mayor Antonia Ricigliano - who proudly help up her hat and umbrella for all to see - and Easter Seals New Jersey's CEO Brian Fitzgerald gave an opening speech, as did representatives from CVS who coordinated the outstanding participation of their statewide employees.

Of course, as luck would have it, that's precisely when the rain began to come down the hardest.  But, the show must go on! And, to everyone's credit, that's exactly what happened as you can see from the photo. All of the walkers, some with umbrellas in two and most without, forged ahead to complete the 2-mile lap around the lake led by our brave Ambassadors Armuan and Vitaliy.

After all, it may have been wet, but at least it wasn't sweltering hot! There's always a silver lining in every cloud! And judging by the commitment of all who participated Sunday, the overhead clouds were lined with gold, evidenced by everyone's commitment and determination in making the day a huge success no matter what. 

Even Maria, a reporter from the Home News Tribune, braved the soggy day to come out and observe the day's events and even had a chance to interview a few of the program participants receiving services from Easter Seals New Jersey, including Ambassador Armaun.  You can read the full article that Maria wrote for the Tribune HERE.

None of this could have been possible without the efforts of so many who worked tirelessly for months planning this event.

We are especially grateful to CVS representatives Troy Dobson and Jerri Davis from CVS Caremark's Region 6, and Mike Garten and Natalie Martone from Region 9, who not only encouraged us to conduct our very first statewide Walk, but also worked closely with us from day one of the planning process up to and through the day of the event.

We also want to thank all of our volunteers and volunteer captains who helped recruit, train and direct their volunteers as well as Easter Seals staff members for spreading the word and encouraging fellow coworkers, family and friends to support and attend the walk.

For her public demonstration of community support on behalf of the township of Edison, we thank Mayor Antonia Ricigliano for braving the wet weather and leading by example. If the mayor and our two ambassadors - one of which is in a wheelchair - can walk in the rain, how could anyone else NOT walk alongside them?

Thanks to the several EMS volunteers for being on hand to provide first aid and emergency services. And finally, thanks go to the Middlesex Department of Parks & Recreation who provided us this wonderful site for the event at no cost to Easter Seals New Jersey and helped to direct traffic and parking.

And, of course, the biggest thanks goes to Armaun, Vitaliy, and Cosette - our Walk Ambassadors who inspired everyone's support and attendance so that so many others with disabilities and special needs could also benefit from the services Easter Seals New Jersey provides.
 
Overall, everyone who came out was inspired by witnessing the outpouring of support and the unified effort of everyone banding together and refusing to allow their spirits to be dampened by the rain! We can't wait to do again next year!!

Don't forget to check out the full WALK WITH ME PHOTO ALBUM to see all the photos from this exciting event!